Norma Kamali

"I never get tired of it, because it works," Norma Kamali said of her classic Bill maillot, a swimsuit that's been part of her collection since the early seventies. Each year for Resort, the designer uses that retro-ruched style, which now comes in several different necklines and silhouettes, as a starting point.

This season, the backless halter version is paired with a shirred mid-calf skirt to create a slinky evening dress, while the crisscross bra top looks as good with high-waisted jeans as it does with the traditional bikini bottom. Beyond the Bill, Kamali played with both wide and skinny stripes on swimsuits, giving celebrity fan Rihanna even more sexy-tomboy options. For those who aren't parked poolside, she created a range of drape-y, deep V-neck jersey dresses in different lengths and sleeves. The saturated colors—sapphire, melon, citron—lent them a more current feeling.

As Kamali said herself, she isn't reinventing the wheel here. But she doesn't have to. Because, well, it all still works. Very well.